Duragesic Pain Patch Lawsuit

February 17, 2011

The Duragesic Pain Patch, also known as the Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch, Duragesic Transdermal Fentanyl Pain Patch, Duragesic Fentanyl Transdermal System or Durogesic Transdermal Fentanyl Pain Patch (Also sold under brand names: Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) has been linked to over 120 overdose deaths and has been subject to multiple FDA recalls & Public Health Advisories. If you or someone you know has been severely injured or killed as a result of a Duragesic brand fentanyl pain patch, or any other brand fentanyl pain patch, talk to a Fentanyl Pain Patch Lawsuit Attorney at the Willis Law Firm for legal advice about filing a potential Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit.

A recall in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently being conducted regarding Fentanyl Gel Leaks in the Duragesic brand of fentanyl pain patches. Duragesic 25 mcg/hr (fentanyl transdermal system) and Sandoz Inc. 25 mcg/hr fentanyl transdermal system pain patches being recalled may have a cut along one side of the drug reservoir within the patch. The result is a possible release of fentanyl gel from the gel reservoir into the pouch in which the patch is packaged, exposing patients or caregivers directly to fentanyl gel. Exposure to fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which can lead to death or permanent diasability.

What is a Duragesic Pain Patch?

Duragesic fentanyl pain patches (Also sold under brand names: Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) are used to manage persistent moderate to severe chronic pain that needs to be treated around the clock and which cannot be treated by: combination narcotic, short-acting, or non-narcotic pain treatment products. Pain patches should only be used by people who are receiving or have developed a tolerance to pain therapy with opioids. Duragesic pain patches should not be used if patients have pain that will go away in a few days, such as pain from surgery, medical or dental procedures, or short-lasting conditions. Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of fentanyl pain patches should be reported to your health-care providers. Duragesic brand and other fentanyl pain patches are available by prescription only, through pharmacies, and should be used only under the supervision of a physician.

Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine as an analgesic. It is a mu opioid receptor agonist with high lipid solubility and a rapid onset and short duration of effects. Fentanyl rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is similar to other mu opioid receptor agonists (like morphine or oxycodone) in its pharmacological effects and produces analgesia, sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting. Fentanyl pain patches appear to produce muscle rigidity with greater frequency than other opioids.

Duragesic Pain Patch Recall

In February 2004, a leading fentanyl pain patch supplier, Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P. recalled one lot of fentanyl pain patches (Sold under brand names: Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch , Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) because of seal breaches which may allow the drug to leak from the pain patch. The recall notice warned that “exposure to the hydrogel contents could result in an increased absorption of the opioid component, fentanyl, leading to increased drug effect, including nausea, sedation, drowsiness, and potentially life threatening complications.” Janssen also later recalled additional lots of fentanyl pain patches; a series of Class II Recalls were then initiated in March 2004 due to a potentially life-threatening manufacturing defect in the fentanyl pain patches. At least one fatality, potentially due to this defect, has already been reported to the US FDA.

The 25 mcg/hr Duragesic pain patches manufactured by ALZA Corporation were also recalled in February 2008 due to a concern that small cuts in the gel reservoir could result in accidental exposure of patients or health care providers to the fentanyl gel contained in the pain patches. Overexposure in patients, or even slight exposure in non opioid tolerant people, could result in a fatal overdose.

PriCara Recalled 25 mcg/hr Duragesic Fentanyl Transdermal Systems and CII Pain Patches from PriCara, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All lots of 25 microgram/hour (mcg/hr) Duragesic (fentanyl transdermal system) CII pain patches sold by PriCara in the United States and all 25 mcg/hr fentanyl pain patches sold by Sandoz Inc. in the United States have been voluntarily recalled as a precaution from wholesalers and pharmacies. All 25 mcg/hr fentanyl pain patches manufactured by ALZA and sold in Canada also were also recalled.

As per the approved product labeling for Duragesic, fentanyl is a potent Schedule II opioid medication. Fentanyl pain patches that are cut or damaged in any way should not be used. Anyone who comes in contact with fentanyl gel in pain patches should thoroughly rinse exposed skin with large amounts of water only; do not use soap. Immediately safe-guard affected pain patches with cut edges by storing them in a plastic container in a safe place, using caution not to handle the fentanyl pain patches directly.

Defective fentanyl pain patches (Sold under brand names: Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patches, Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch)should be kept away from children and animals and not disposed of until you have spoken to a Duragesic Pain Patch Lawsuit Lawyer – Fentanyl Pain Patch Lawsuit Attorney or healthcare professional. Pain patches with a cut edge that have leaked gel will not provide effective pain relief. Anyone who has 25 mcg/hr Duragesic or Sandoz Inc. fentanyl pain patches should check the box or foil pouch for the expiration date to see if they have fentanyl pain patches that are being recalled. The recalled fentanyl pain patches all have expiration dates on or before December 2009. The cut edge in affected fentanyl pain patches can be seen upon opening the sealed foil pouch that holds the fentanyl pain patch. Affected fentanyl pain patches should not be handled directly. Patients using fentanyl painpatches who have medical questions should contact their health-care providers.

There are distinct differences between a Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch (Also sold under brand names: Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) class action lawsuit and a more typical individual Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit. A Fentanyl Pain Patch class action lawsuit would be a form of Pain Patch lawsuit in which a large group of people (plaintiffs) collectively bring a lawsuit to court in the form of a “class action” against the manufacturer of the Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch (defendant).

In a class action lawsuit involving personal injury, resulting from defective Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patches, all Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch (Also sold under brand names: Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) lawsuit plaintiffs would typically be grouped together into a single Fentanyl Pain Patch class action lawsuit, regardless of the degree or severity of their injuries. In this type of Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch class action lawsuit, plaintiffs with injuries ranging from minor ones not requiring further attention, all the way to the most severe injuries including potentially life threatening complications and even death by accidental overdose, would be grouped into one single Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch class action lawsuit. All plaintiffs in the class would share any award or settlement resulting from that Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch class action lawsuit.

In Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuits involving catastrophic injury or death, an individual lawsuit, in most cases, is more appropriate and in the plaintiff’s best interest. Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patches have been linked to severe injuries, including potentially life threatening complications and death. Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch (Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch) cases such as these are better suited to an individual Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit because of the severity and degree of injury to the plaintiff. In an individual Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit, each plaintiff’s case is filed, presented and considered individually, based on its own strength and degree of injury.In many cases involving Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patches, with medical care, victims may be able to lead mostly normal and productive lives.

An individual Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit allows each Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch victim, their injuries and their future needs to be considered on an individual basis when determining damages, awards and settlement amounts, and not as part of a class action lawsuit.

Duragesic Pain Patch Lawsuit Attorney

Poorly designed medications like the Duragesic brand pain patch or any other fentanyl pain patch may cause accidental overdose or other severe and devastating injuries or death. Seek immediate medical attention if you are suffering an emergency situation resulting from the use of a Duragesic brand pain patch or any other fentanyl pain patch (Mylan Fentanyl Pain Patch, Sandoz Fentanyl Pain Patch, Janssen Fentanyl Pain Patch, Watson Fentanyl Pain Patch).

If you or someone you know has been severely injured as a result of a Duragesic brand pain patch or any other other fentanyl pain patch, talk to a Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch Lawsuit Attorney at the Willis Law Firm for legal advice about a potential Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit. You are not alone. Join other Duragesic fentanyl pain patch victims and their families in fighting for their legal rights. It may be too late to recover from some of the devastating effects of the Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch, but an experienced pharmaceutical products liability attorney at the Willis Law Firm can assist you in a legal action against PriCara, a Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the makers of the Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch and in filing a Fentanyl Pain Patch Lawsuit.

Please fill out the Free Case Evaluation to the right or call us toll-free at 1-800-883-9858. Please keep in mind that certain states have a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to file a Duragesic Fentanyl Pain Patch lawsuit or to seek legal action. Contact our law firm immediately so we may explain the rights and options available to you and your family.

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Attorney David P. Willis is a nationally recognized Trial Lawyer with more than 36 years of fighting for his clients' rights. Mr. Willis is a former Briefing Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas and he is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law since 1988.

"Through his many years of dedication and service to his clients, David Willis has been successful in forcing many billion dollar corporations to make major safety changes to their products and the ways they conduct business."